Cost of Living in Waterloo - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $959 (excluding rent), and $2,437 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,331 (excluding rent), and $4,528 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.92 CA$20.85

$5.97 CA$8.34

$26.11 CA$36.47

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.8 CA$93.4

$48.27 CA$67.4

$111 CA$156

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.45 CA$13.21

$7.27 CA$10.16

$10.91 CA$15.24

Cappuccino

$3.09 CA$4.32

$1.48 CA$2.07

$4.26 CA$5.95

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.17

$1.49 CA$2.09

$1.87 CA$2.61

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 CA$2.19

$1.46 CA$2.04

$1.83 CA$2.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 CA$7.63

$2.55 CA$3.57

$7.28 CA$10.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.61 CA$9.23

$5.87 CA$8.2

$8.81 CA$12.31

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 CA$3.13

$1.2 CA$1.68

$3.03 CA$4.23

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 CA$3.18

$1.46 CA$2.04

$3.66 CA$5.11

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.57 CA$3.58

$1.44 CA$2.01

$8.66 CA$12.09

Eggs

$3.17 CA$4.43

$2.27 CA$3.17

$3.78 CA$5.28

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 CA$12.07

$4.97 CA$6.95

$15.04 CA$21.02

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.42 CA$22.95

$8.82 CA$12.32

$19.11 CA$26.7

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.96 CA$19.5

$5.18 CA$7.23

$24.44 CA$34.14

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 CA$5.81

$1.66 CA$2.32

$6.81 CA$9.51

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 CA$1.72

$0.96 CA$1.34

$1.87 CA$2.62

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 CA$4.51

$2.16 CA$3.02

$4.32 CA$6.03

Tomato (1kg)

$3.8 CA$5.32

$2.24 CA$3.13

$6.33 CA$8.84

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 CA$3.29

$0.75 CA$1.04

$4.46 CA$6.23

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.82

$1.44 CA$2.01

$5.75 CA$8.03

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 CA$2.75

$0.73 CA$1.02

$3.63 CA$5.07

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 CA$2.21

$0.36 CA$0.51

$3.59 CA$5.02

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.73 CA$19.18

$10.83 CA$15.13

$15.9 CA$22.21

Wine (Bottle)

$10.71 CA$14.96

$9.28 CA$12.97

$32.12 CA$44.87

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 CA$3.54

$1.89 CA$2.64

$4.53 CA$6.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 CA$4.58

$1.35 CA$1.88

$5.21 CA$7.28

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.77 CA$3.87

$2.4 CA$3.35

$2.77 CA$3.87

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.9 CA$94.9

$65.4 CA$91.4

$69.8 CA$97.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 CA$3.58

$3.65 CA$5.11

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 CA$2.45

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.31 CA$40.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 CA$1.62

$1.05 CA$1.46

$1.26 CA$1.76

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.8K CA$34.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20K CA$28K

$19.9K CA$27.8K

$20.2K CA$28.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$181 CA$253

$116 CA$162

$254 CA$354

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.45 CA$50.9

$18.26 CA$25.51

$62.1 CA$86.7

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 CA$77.9

$41.17 CA$57.5

$77 CA$108

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.06 CA$56

$18.78 CA$26.23

$67.6 CA$94.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.39 CA$21.5

$10.27 CA$14.34

$20.53 CA$28.68

Cinema Ticket

$12.14 CA$16.95

$9.63 CA$13.45

$18.52 CA$25.88

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$552 CA$771

$356 CA$497

$748 CA$1,045

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K CA$14.2K

$8,721 CA$12.2K

$14.5K CA$20.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.9 CA$75.3

$15.59 CA$21.77

$89.1 CA$124

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.2 CA$36.61

$14.23 CA$19.87

$44.92 CA$62.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.1 CA$99.4

$33.63 CA$46.98

$120 CA$167

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 CA$125

$29.91 CA$41.78

$150 CA$209

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 CA$1,993

$1,258 CA$1,757

$1,765 CA$2,465

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 CA$1,805

$1,126 CA$1,573

$1,351 CA$1,888

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,409 CA$3,365

$2,099 CA$2,933

$2,812 CA$3,928

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 CA$2,931

$1,840 CA$2,571

$2,356 CA$3,291

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,452 CA$7,617

$4,983 CA$6,961

$7,119 CA$9,945

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,978 CA$6,954

$3,817 CA$5,332

$6,028 CA$8,421

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,079 CA$4,302

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.71

4.45

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌎 North america

Cost of Living in Waterloo - Frequently Asked Questions

Waterloo offers a balanced pace with a friendly vibe for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. You’ll notice costs are generally lower than Canada’s big metro hubs, especially for rents in student-leaning neighborhoods and for everyday groceries, dining, and transit. Cost of Living in Waterloo is friendly for students and remote workers who value community and safety. Housing tends to be more affordable when you consider options like shared apartments or longer leases in campus-adjacent areas. Seasonal crowds around university events can shift availability and price margins, but the city remains approachable for short stays and longer stays alike. Tip: use apartment portals early and compare neighborhoods to find your best fit.

Daily life in Waterloo centers on a walkable campus-to-town mix, plenty of cafes, and a reliable transit system. When housing hunt, start near the university hubs or in up-and-coming neighborhoods a short transit ride away; shared apartments and longer leases are common, with landlords favoring stable tenancies. Food options range from farmers’ markets to affordable ethnic staples and casual eateries. For getting around, cycling and bus routes cover most of the city, with ride-hailing popular for late evenings. Note the Waterloo living cost varies by neighborhood and season, so plan ahead for spikes around the school year. Tip: set a simple monthly budget and review it monthly.

Quality of life in Waterloo hinges on smart budgeting and neighborhood fit. Create a simple framework: fixed costs (housing, transit pass) vs variable (groceries, dining, entertainment). Explore neighborhoods by walkability, safety, access to parks, and proximity to work or study hubs. Save by adopting multi-use spaces like coworking cafes or libraries during the day, cooking at home, using seasonal sales, and sharing equipment. Seasonality affects energy use and commuting, so adjust heating or cooling habits and plan outdoor activities in spring and summer. For excursions, compare neighborhoods by commute time and access to transit lines rather than mere distance. Tip: build a three-month budgeting plan and track changes month to month.